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COLLEGE OF NEW JEESEY;*V 



A brief narrative of the recent work of grace, and of the course of 
religious instruction, in the College of New Jersey. Extracted from the 
Eeport of the President to the Trustees , and published at their request ; — 
submitted June 24th, 1856. 

Of the two hundred and fifty-three students in the College, 
during the present year, eighty-six are members of the Church, 
in full communion ; and it is expected that not less than twenty 
others will make, before long, a public profession of their faith 
in Christ. Several purpose to do so at the first opportunity 
afforded them. Of those now in the communion of the Church, 
seventeen have become communicants within the present college 
year. Besides those just spoken of, and in regard to whom, we 
indulge the hope, that they are pious, there are many others who 
have been deeply impressed with the importance of divine things; 
and who, we trust, are to be brought to a saving knowledge of 
the truth. 

In this connexion it will be proper for me to make mention of 
the work of grace, which, in the kind providence of God, we 
have been permitted to witness among the youth of our College, 
during the present term. While at home in the previous vaca- 
tion, two of the students made a profession of their faith; and a 
few others became more or less interested in the subject of re- 
ligion. 

On Thursday, the 28th of February, the day observed as a day 
of prayer for Colleges, we had religious services, both in the 
afternoon and in the evening. These services were well attend- 
ed; and they were unusually solemn. It was evident that a deep 
impression had been made upon the minds of many. In the 
afternoon addresses were made by the Rev. Dr. Carnaham and 
the Rev. Dr. Hodge; and they were listened to with devout at- 



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tention. In the evening, the exercises were conducted by the 
President of the College, and the number of students present 
was unusually large. 

These circumstances encouraged us to hope that God was 
about to revive his work, and grant us a season of refreshing. 
In this expectation we were not disappointed. It was soon ap- 
parent that a work of grace was begun. Not only were the 
members of the Faculty greatly encouraged, and active in pro- 
moting the good work, but the pious students were much engaged 
in efforts to interest the minds of their fellow students in the 
subject of their spiritual and eternal welfare. From the begin- 
ning of the work to the present time, there have been religious 
services in the Sophomore recitation room every evening in the 
week, with the exception of Sabbath evening. These services 
were conducted by the President and Professors of the College, 
aided occasionally by the Professors of the Seminary and other 
friends. To Dr. Hodge we are particularly indebted for his 
valuable assistance so often and so willingly given. 

For fifteen years or more, religious services had been held on 
the evenings of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, in 
each week of the session; but during the present session we have 
had them every evening, with the exception of Sabbath evening, 
as above mentioned. The reason for not meeting on that eve- 
ning was this, that there were always, on that evening, religious 
services in the First Presbyterian Church. 

Throughout the whole session the meetings have been well at- 
tended, both by the members of the Faculty and by the students. 
The exercises were singing, prayer, reading of Scripture, expo- 
sition of Scripture and the explanation of some doctrine or duty. 
The Tutors and the students frequently took part in prayer. On 
every Sabbath morning, for many years, the students have held 
a prayer meeting in the Sophomore recitation room; and this 
meeting has been regularly attended by some of the officers of 
the College. Meetings for prayer and the reading of Scripture 
were held frequently, during the session, in the rooms of the 
students. At these more private meetings, Professor Duffield 
was often present and took part in them. For thirty years the 



pious students have held a meeting for prayer and conference, on 
every Saturday evening. Opportunities for conversation on the 
subject of religion were not only afforded to such students as 
desired to have instruction; but, in many cases, they were visited 
in their rooms; and in others, they were sent for to our houses, 
that we might be able to converse with them in private, pray 
with them, and give them such counsel as we thought to be suited 
to their several states of mind. 

Our religious services, though daily, do not appear to have 
been burdensome. Care was taken not to have them protracted. 
Our aim was to limit them to thirty or forty minutes, and to pre- 
sent whatever topics were handled in as few words as would suf- 
fice to give a distinct and deep impression of the truth sought to 
be imparted. In our teachings we have endeavored to bring 
home to the hearts of our pupils their depravity by nature, their 
helplessness, their lost and ruined condition; but more especially 
their obligations to God, for his love, grace and condescension; 
their absolute dependence for salvation upon the grace of God; 
the righteousness of Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit. 
In this manner we laboured to interest them in the vital truths 
of religion, and to bring them to the exercise of repentance to- 
ward God, and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to a con- 
sciousness of their entire dependence upon the Spirit of grace and 
truth, for all right feeling, and for all saving knowledge. 

While there has been a marked earnestness on the part of 
many, in seeking forgiveness and acceptance with God; there 
has also been perfect sobriety of deportment, upon the part 
of all, whether professors of religion or inquirers after the 
truth. Never have I seen things more quietly conducted; and 
seldom with equally happy results. For while there has been 
much to rejoice our hearts, and for which we desire to be ever 
grateful to our Heavenly Father, there have been no excesses to 
deplore. True, indeed, all who were impressed have not given 
evidence of being born again, and some of them doubtless are as 
careless as ever; yet there has been no such re-action as is some- 
times witnessed after great excitement on the subject of religion. 
We hope, too, that many, who manifest no deep concern for their 



4 

spiritual welfare, have nevertheless received into their hearts the 
seeds of divine truth, which are yet to spring up and to bring forth 
fruit to the glory of God, and to their own eternal joy. Some, 
we regret to say, have remained, to all appearance, indifferent 
and careless as to their condition; and, as in like circumstances, 
such persons are usually hardened, so we fear in regard to those 
of whom we now speak, that they will be the worse for neglect- 
ing their present privileges. Still, it is our belief, that the stu- 
dents of this class have been much restrained from sinful courses, 
by the general seriousness pervading the College. After say- 
ing thus much, it can be scarcely necessary for me too add, 
that the order of the College during the present session has been 
good, and that there has been but little call for exercise of dis- 
cipline. The attention to study has also been good. With the 
exception of the interruption of the regular recitatious, on the 
afternoon of the 28th of February, there has been no interference 
whatever with the orders of the College, in consequence of the 
state of religious feeling among the students. 



In accordance with the views expressed by the Board of Trus- 
tees, the course of religious instruction in the College has been 
extended, and it is now as follows, viz: 

On the Lord's day there is preaching in the morning, in the 
College Chapel. In the afternoon all the classes recite from the 
sacred Scriptures. The lessons are taken alternately from the 
Old and New Testaments. Accompanying these exercises, ex- 
planations, practical remarks and prayer are made by the persons 
who hear these recitations. During the present year, Dr. Atwater 
has had the charge of the Junior and Freshman classes, and the 
President of the Senior and Sophomore classes, in the lessons 
from the Bible. 

Prayer is offered every morning and evening in the College 
Chapel, with the exception of Sabbath evening, on which evening, 
as before mentioned, prayer is offered at the close of the Bible 
recitation. At morning prayer, a portion of Scripture is read; 
at evening prayer, a psalm or hymn is sung. 



On Monday morning, the Senior, Sophomore, and Freshman 
classes recite from the Greek Testament. These recitations are 
heard by the Professor of Greek, the Adjunct Professor, and the 
Tutor in this department. 

The Junior class recites a lesson taken from Dr. Alexander's 
Evidences of Christianity, or from Paley's Natural Theology, or 
from his Horse Paulinas. They do the same also on Saturday 
morning. The recitations on these subjects are heard by the 
President, who makes such comments as he deems proper. 

These exercises, with the exception of the lessons in the 
Horse Paulinas, comprise the course of instruction heretofore 
given. In addition to these, the Seniors recite to the President 
of the College, on Butler's Analogy, the Sophomores on Dr. 
Hodge's Way of Life; and the Freshmen, on Dr. Coleman's Bib- 
lical History and Geography. During the present session, the 
Sophomore and Freshman classes have recited once a week, and 
the Senior class from once to twice a week, on the subjects just 
mentioned. The study of the " "Way of Life," this session, was 
very opportune • several of the students under serious impressions 
having derived much valuable instruction from it — and the very 
instruction they needed. 

It is my purpose, next year, to make some slight change as to 
the times these several works shall be made subjects of study; 
but, in other respects, to regard the present course of religious 
instruction as the established one for this institution. 

That the clerical members of the Faculty should take a lively 
interest in the religious instruction and welfare of the student is 
what we might all expect from sincere men. But it is not so 
generally the case, that laymen and men of science, of the stand- 
ing of our Professors, regard the religious interests of men as 
their highest interests, and do all their power, by precept and 
example, to imbue the minds of their pupils with a reverence for 
the teachings of revelation. I regard it as a happy circumstance 
for the youth of our College, that, in matters of science, they are 
under the tuition of able men, who regard science as the hand- 
maid of religion, and in all respects to be subservient to her. 

Permit me, in closing this Report on the State of the Col- 



lege, to express our great obligations to Almighty God, the 
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his grace and 
goodness, vouchsafed to us and to the youth of our charge, dur- 
ing the present session, as seen in the general good health, good 
order, attention to study, and especially in the outpouring of his 
spirit, and in the hopeful conversion of a large number of our 
youth. 

To His holy name be praise evermore. 

JOHN MACLEAN, 
President of the College. 

To the Trustees op the) 

College of New Jersey, J 



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